Angled optical connector mounting assembly

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to optical connectors and, more particularly, to an assembly for connecting optical connectors to each other at an angle relative to another member.

2. Brief Description of Earlier Developments

PCT publication WO 99/36997 discloses a faceplate for connecting an electrical plug and an electrical outlet to each other at an angle relative to a plane of the faceplate. U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,344 discloses an optical connector adapter for connecting optical connectors of two optical conductor assemblies to each other. The adapter has flanges to connect the adapter to another member at a perpendicular through-hole configuration. There is a tendency to make electronic and optical apparatus smaller. However, for apparatus with an adapter and connectors similar to U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,344, there needs to be enough room at the connection site to allow a user to insert and remove the optical connectors from the adapter. This limits reduction in size of electronic and optical apparatus. There also must be enough open area in front of and behind the adapter such that the optical conductors are not kinked or broken. There is a desire to connect optical connectors to each other at an optical connector adapter (attached to another member such as a back plane or back panel) in an arrangement that will allow for a smaller open area in front of and behind the adapter for insertion and removal of the connectors. There is also a desire to allow the optical connectors to be attached to each other at a non-perpendicular angle to a plane of the back plane or back panel. The positioning of the adapter can ensure, for example, that any light transmitted by the connector after unmating is projected towards the floor, protecting the operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a mount is provided for connecting an optical connector adapter to a panel. The mount comprises a first section adapted to attach to the panel; and a second section having an aperture for receiving a portion of the optical connector adapter. The second section is adapted to extend through a hole in the panel. The aperture has a centerline axis which is angled relative to the first section such that the centerline axis of the aperture is angled relative to a centerline axis of the hole when the first section is attached to the panel.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a combined optical connector adapter and mount assembly is provided comprising a mount adapted to be connected to a frame and extend through a hole in the frame; and an adapter connected to the mount. The adapter is adapted to connect at least two optical connectors to each other at an acute angle relative to a center axis of the hole.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, an optical connector adapter assembly is provided for connecting at least two optical conductor connectors to each other at a hole through a planar section of the frame. The improvement comprises a housing of the assembly comprising a receiving section for receiving the connectors which, when the assembly is connected to the frame and the connectors are located in the receiving section, angles the connectors at acute angles relative to a plane of the planar section of the frame.

In accordance with one method of the present invention, a method of connecting an optical connector adapter to a frame is provided comprising steps of connecting the optical connector adapter to a mount; and connecting the mount to the frame with the adapter extending through a hole in the frame. The adapter provides a connection of optical connectors to each other along an axis which is angled relative to a centerline axis of the hole.

In accordance with another method of the present invention, a method of connecting an optical connector adapter assembly to a frame is provided comprising steps of locating a first portion of a housing of the assembly in a hole of the frame, the first portion having a receiving area for receiving ends of optical conductors; positioning a section of the frame, which is proximate the hole, in a recess of the housing; and connecting a second portion of the housing to the frame with a single fastener, wherein the housing is stationarily connected to the frame due to a combination of contact of the housing with the frame in the hole, contact of the housing with the frame in the recess, and connection between the housing and the frame by the single fastener.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and other features of the present invention are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an optical connector assembly incorporating features of the present invention attached to a panel (shown in cross-section) and two optical conductor assemblies A, B intended to be connected to each other inside the assembly;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the optical connector adapter used in the optical connector assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the mount used in the optical connector assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an opposite side of the mount shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the gasket shown in FIG. <b>1</b>.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a side view of an optical connector assembly <b>10</b> incorporating features of the present invention attached to a member <b>2</b> (shown in cross-section) and two optical conductor assemblies A, B intended to be connected to each other inside the assembly <b>10</b>. Although the present invention will be described with reference to the single embodiment shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present invention can be embodied in many alternate forms of embodiments. In addition, any suitable size, shape or type of elements or materials could be used.

The assembly <b>10</b> generally comprises an optical connector adapter <b>12</b> and a mount <b>14</b>. Referring also to FIG. 2 the adapter <b>12</b> generally comprises a housing <b>16</b> comprised of two outer housing pieces <b>18</b>, <b>20</b>, two inner housing pieces <b>22</b>, <b>24</b>, and a sleeve <b>26</b>. However, in alternate embodiments any suitable type of adapter could be used. For example, the adapter could be a SC-SC Duplex Adapter sold under part number 74811 by FCI USA, Inc. or a LC Low Profile Adapter sold under part number 74884 by FCI USA, Inc. In the embodiment shown, the adapter <b>12</b> is a SC/SC Adapter With Flanges sold under part 74885 by FCI USA, Inc. The adapter <b>12</b> has two receiving areas <b>28</b>, <b>30</b> for receiving the connectors C along a centerline axis <b>32</b> to mate the connectors C to each other. The pieces <b>18</b>, <b>20</b>, <b>22</b>, <b>24</b> are preferably comprised of plastic and are ultrasonically wedged to each other. The inner pieces <b>22</b>, <b>24</b> form deflectable snap-locks for the connectors C of the optical conductor assemblies A, B. The outer pieces <b>18</b>, <b>20</b> form mounting flanges <b>34</b>, <b>36</b> with fastener holes <b>38</b>. The adapter <b>12</b> can be attached to another member without the mount <b>14</b>, such as a printed circuit board or back panel, with one of the ends <b>40</b> or <b>42</b> extending through a hole in the member; generally perpendicular to a plane of the hole and the member. Thus, as is known in the art, the adapter <b>12</b> can be attached to another member as a perpendicular type of adapter, with the centerline axis <b>32</b> parallel or coaxial with the centerline axis of the hole which the adapter is located in. However, as noted above, in alternate embodiments any suitable type of adapter could be used.

The mount <b>14</b> of the present invention is provided to allow the perpendicular type of adapter <b>12</b> to be connected to another member in a non-perpendicular or angled type of connection. Referring also to FIGS. 3 and 4, mount <b>14</b> comprises a conductive (e.g.: metal) one-piece member or housing <b>44</b> and a single fastener <b>46</b> (see FIG. <b>1</b>). In an alternate embodiment the housing <b>44</b> could be comprised of multiple members, could be comprised of any suitable material(s), and could have any suitable shape. The mount could also have more than one fastener. The fastener <b>46</b> in this embodiment generally comprises a nut and bolt, but any suitable type of fastening system could be provided including a fastener or fastening system integrally formed with the housing <b>44</b>.

The housing <b>44</b> generally comprises a first mounting section <b>48</b> and a second adapter connection section <b>50</b>. The first section <b>48</b> generally comprises a bottom end <b>52</b>, a top end <b>54</b> and side flanges <b>56</b>. The first section <b>48</b> forms a generally planar surface <b>58</b> on one side of the flanges <b>56</b>, top end <b>54</b> and a part of the bottom end <b>52</b>. The bottom end <b>52</b> includes a recess or slot <b>60</b> between a portion <b>62</b> having a part of the surface <b>58</b> and a portion <b>64</b>. The top end <b>54</b> includes a hole <b>66</b> for the fastener <b>46</b>. However, in alternate embodiments the first section <b>48</b> could have any suitable shape which is adapted to attach the mount to the frame <b>2</b>. For example, rather than the bottom end <b>52</b> having an interlocking slot <b>60</b>, the bottom end <b>52</b> could have a hole similar to hole <b>66</b> and another fastener could be used to attach the bottom end to the frame <b>2</b>. Alternatively, any suitable connection of the mount <b>14</b> to the frame <b>2</b> could be provided. The mount <b>14</b> could also be shaped such that it does not extend through the hole <b>3</b> in the frame <b>2</b>.

The second adapter connection section <b>50</b> generally comprises a box or tube shaped section <b>51</b> located between the two ends <b>52</b>, <b>54</b>. However, the second section <b>50</b> could have any suitable shape adapted to connect the adapter <b>12</b> to the mount. In this embodiment the tube shaped section <b>51</b> has a through-hole or aperture <b>68</b> with a centerline axis <b>70</b> which is angled relative to the mounting section <b>48</b> and the plane of the surface <b>58</b>. In a preferred embodiment the angle X is about 45°. However, any acute angle could be provided. The tube shaped section <b>51</b> includes a ledge <b>72</b> at an entrance <b>74</b> into the aperture <b>68</b>. The dimensions of the aperture <b>68</b> are about the same as the outer dimensions of the end <b>40</b> of the adapter <b>12</b>. Thus, the end <b>40</b> can be slid into the aperture <b>68</b> through the entrance <b>74</b>. The second section <b>50</b> also includes a pocket section <b>76</b>. The pocket section <b>76</b> has a recess or pocket <b>78</b>. A bottom of the pocket <b>78</b> forms a ledge <b>80</b> at an opposite end of the entrance <b>74</b> from the ledge <b>72</b>. The pocket <b>78</b> provides an open area to accommodate the flange <b>36</b> of the adapter <b>12</b>. The flange <b>36</b> can rest against the ledge <b>80</b> and the flange <b>34</b> can rest against the ledge <b>72</b>. However, in alternate embodiments the pocket section <b>76</b> might not be provided.

In a preferred embodiment the adapter <b>12</b> is fixedly attached to the housing <b>44</b>. For example, the two housings <b>44</b> and <b>40</b> could be ultrasonically welded to each other, or bonded to each other, or mechanically attached to each other by a spring clip or snap-lock latch system. However, any suitable connection could be provided. In an alternate embodiment features of the adapter <b>12</b> could be integrally formed with the housing <b>44</b>. Thus, features of the present invention could be comprised in a dedicated angled adapter that did not use a perpendicular type adapter to form a mount/adapter assembly. However, the present invention provides the feature of the ability to use a single type of adapter to provide either a perpendicular type of mounting arrangement for connecting connectors C to each other perpendicular to a plane of a planar section of another member, or a non-perpendicular or angled type of mounting arrangement for connecting connectors C to each other at an acute angle to the plane merely by additional use of the mount <b>14</b>.

As seen in FIG. 1, the member <b>2</b> is provided with a hole <b>3</b>. The member <b>2</b> has a section <b>4</b> at the bottom of the hole <b>3</b>. When the mount <b>14</b> is attached to the member <b>2</b> the tube section <b>51</b> extends through the hole <b>3</b>. The section <b>4</b> of the member <b>2</b> is received in the receiving area <b>60</b> at the bottom end <b>52</b>. The surface <b>58</b> is located against the side <b>5</b> of the member <b>2</b> or, alternatively, a gasket <b>82</b> could be provided with the conductive housing <b>44</b>. The fastener <b>46</b> extends through the hole <b>66</b> and attaches the top end <b>54</b> to the member <b>2</b>. Sides <b>53</b> of the tube section <b>51</b> can contact sides of the hole <b>3</b>. Thus, the mount <b>14</b> can be fixedly and stationarily attached to the member <b>2</b>. With the adapter <b>12</b> connected to the mount <b>14</b>, and the mount <b>14</b> connected to the member <b>2</b>, the centerline <b>32</b> of the receiving areas <b>28</b>, <b>30</b> is angled relative to the centerline <b>90</b> of the hole <b>3</b> at an angle Y. In a preferred embodiment the angle Y is about 45°. However, any suitable acute angle could be provided. Thus, the connectors C can be connected to each other at angle X relative to the plane of the member <b>2</b> and hole <b>3</b>.

The present invention also provides the feature of increased safety to a user who removes the assembly B from the front of the panel <b>2</b>. More specifically, because of the angled mount <b>14</b>, if the connector C of the assembly B is removed from the adapter <b>12</b>, light passing out of the assembly A at its connector C will be directed downward towards the ground or floor. Thus, there is significantly reduced risk that the light will impact the user's eyes and perhaps cause damage to the user's eyes.

As noted above, the housing <b>44</b> can be comprised of a conductive material, such as metal, and can function as a shield to help prevent electromagnetic interference (EMI) from passing through the hole <b>3</b>. The gasket <b>82</b> can also be comprised of conductive material, such as metal, for example. The metal gasket can provide EMI shielding between the front of the panel and the adapter mount. Referring also to FIG. 5, one embodiment of the gasket <b>82</b> is shown. In this embodiment, the gasket <b>82</b> has spring fingers <b>100</b> which extend from opposite sides <b>102</b>, <b>104</b>. Each spring finger provides ground contact and also assures firm mating between the adapter mount <b>14</b> and the panel <b>2</b>. In this embodiment the gasket <b>82</b> is comprised of a stamped sheet metal member. However, in alternate embodiments any suitable gasket could be provided, the gasket could have any suitable shape, the gasket could be provided with any suitable material(s), and any suitable method could be used to form the gasket. As noted above, the mount <b>14</b> could be used without a gasket.

It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances which fall within the scope of the appended claims.